Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, community sites named in the text and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Common PvP Mistakes and Myths
Many PvP habits look strong but lose fights. minecraft.wiki's Java PvP guide lists the usual ones: using a trident as a main weapon, relying on harming potions, keeping a totem in your offhand all fight, swinging an axe for damage, drinking milk, and fighting mostly with a bow.
Which items are overrated?
| Myth | What the guide says |
|---|---|
| Tridents are great weapons | They fall short of an axe in melee and a bow at range; use one only if you have no other ranged option |
| Healing potions are the best healing | Popular from older and factions servers, but in modern kits they take many slots and are outpaced by stackable golden apples |
| Harming potions are strong | They bypass armour but not Protection and do not drain durability; poor value for the slots |
| Firework crossbows are superweapons | They do less damage than people think, though they still drain armour |
| No-Knockback swords for netherite | Netherite's knockback resistance makes combo hits useless without Knockback I |
Which strategies backfire?
- Over-using ranged weapons: bows deal modest damage to geared players, shields block them, and players pearl in to crit you.
- Offhand totem all fight: it does nothing until you are about to die; a shield or utility helps more.
- Axe as main damage: a Sharpness V netherite axe with Strength II does 19 damage, only 11% more than a sword, at under two-thirds the speed. Its value is disabling shields.
- Water to escape cobwebs when you have pearls: pearls are instant.
- Milk for debuffs: it also removes Strength, Speed and Fire Resistance; honey clears poison alone.
Do these apply to every server?
The guide is written for modern Java kits with shields and netherite. Some points flip on other servers: the guide itself notes healing potions stayed popular on factions and older servers, and 1.8 has no shields or attack cooldown. Kit-by-kit: PvP kit types; version differences: 1.8 vs 1.9+.
How do you find your own mistakes?
The guide's advice is to watch better players and notice what they do differently, and why they carry each item. Related: playstyles, status effects and shield techniques.
Frequently asked questions
Is a trident good for PvP?
minecraft.wiki's PvP guide says no: it is worse than an axe in melee and a bow at range.
Should I keep a totem in my offhand?
Only when you are low enough to die; otherwise a shield or utility item helps more.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.